Web-enabled collective intelligence: virtual community perspective

Abstract

Although virtual communities are often criticised for their lack of direct contact, in comparison to traditional communities the networked ones can operate more efficiently, due to technologies that make it possible not only to exchange large amounts of information, but also to process the information more efficiently. New knowledge, ideas, solutions, suggested problem – solving methods, integrated public opinion, structured opinions and views, developed innovations, prototypes, generated added-value, etc. are considered to be collective intelligence of the community. By applying qualitative case analysis strategy on virtual Facebook communities, this research aims to identify patterns for collective intelligence to emerge in a systemic manner.